Fresh peaches are the star of this recipe. Peach sweet tea is a black tea paired with ripe peaches, lemon, and some sugar to create a mouthwatering, hydrating, and refreshing drink. It is the perfect spring and summer drink to sip on hotter days.
Are you a fan of flavored teas? If so, you might enjoy making a flavored tea at home so that you get to control the sweetness! Serve it up over ice, and enjoy the sweet flavors of peach paired with mild black tea.
Make sure to head over and try my raspberry or strawberry tea, for more fruit teas that will be a hit! It is so easy to grab fresh fruit and whip up a flavored tea that stands out. You will never repurchase store-bought!
When Did Peach Tea Come About?
It was said that the first peach tea recipe originated in a southern state around the late 1870s. Peaches were very common in Georgia, so it was a great place to find new and different peach recipes.
This is a fantastic recipe to whip up when you have fresh and ripe peaches during the peach season in your area.
Reasons You Will Love This Peach Tea Recipe…
- It is a simple recipe that only takes a few ingredients to make.
- Peaches are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and even antioxidants!
- Customize the intensity of the peach flavor and sweetness to your liking. I love being able to control the flavoring.
- Serve it up for yourself or a crowd. It’s a great drink to impress guests or to just stay in and enjoy for yourself.
- You can save a lot of money making this tea from scratch at home rather than buying it at the grocery store.
Ingredients You Will Need
Peaches: Reach for ripe and plump peaches that are soft when gently squeezed. Don’t pick any that are blemished or bruised.
Sugar: Granulated sugar helps sweeten the tea and balance out the tart or bitterness that can sometimes occur. You are welcome to use more or less to suit your preferred sweet level.
Water: Filtered water is best for this recipe; you will use cold and hot water.
Black Tea: I used black tea to pair with the peaches. Now, you can use any brand, but I recommend using a quality tea. The better the tea, the more you will find it offers the best flavor.
Lemon: Slice and add lemon to the tea for a refreshing and tart citrus punch. This is also gorgeous for presentation value.
Ice: Add some ice to serve a chilled iced tea that helps elevate the flavors.
Variations to Recipe
Mint: Add some fresh mint leaves to give the peach flavor a lovely earthy twist. You can muddle the mint leaves before pouring the tea mixture into the pitcher for a more robust mint flavor.
Alcohol: Want a boozy tea? Add a bourbon, vodka, or even a white rum. Just pour a glass and then add in your alcohol of choice and stir. This is, of course, an adult-only version.
Sparkling: Instead of finishing the tea with cold water, swap it with sparkling water for a bubbly texture. You need to serve it up after pouring, as the carbonation will fizzle away after a bit.
Fruit: Add some raspberries, even strawberries, and peaches for a more fruity tea flavor.
Honey: Instead of sugar, you can use a natural sweetener. This will alter the flavor slightly, but it is a delicious option. Even maple syrup can be used as a replacement for sugar.
Sugar-Free: If you need to make a sugar-free tea, reach for a sweetener of your choice and use it to sweeten the tea as you see fit.
Tea Flavor: I used black tea, but you can swap it with a flavor you like, such as green tea or chamomile. Play around with tea flavors and use what you want.
How to Store Peach Tea
Refrigerate: Store any tea in the fridge for 3-5 days. Ensure you do not leave the ice in the pitcher, which can water down the tea flavors.
Make Ahead: You can also make this tea a day before you want to serve it. Whip it up as the recipe states and store it in a sealed container in the fridge. Then, stir well, add ice, and serve this flavorful sweet tea.
Freezing: You can also freeze any tea you don’t drink. Allow the tea to cool and pour in a freezer bag, ice cubes, etc. Then, freeze for several months. Add ice cubes to drink or thaw in the fridge the night before. Then serve as you would!
Tips for Success
Ripe Peaches
It would be best if you used ripe peaches. If you use under-ripe, they will have a sour or bitter taste. You can also use frozen peaches; they are typically frozen at peak season.
Fresh Brewed Tea
In this recipe, aim for fresh tea. If tea sits too long, it can become bitter, so fresh-brewed tea offers the best flavor.
Steep The Tea
Allow time for the tea to genuinely steep. The longer the tea steeps, the bolder the flavors will become. Don’t rush this step.
Chill Tea
Allowing the tea to chill in the fridge helps to meld the flavors together, resulting in a richer flavor. Plus, serving the tea on ice enhances the flavors even more.
FAQs
Can I use canned or frozen peaches instead of fresh ones?
If you can’t get fresh peaches, frozen and canned peaches are options. Drain the canned peaches before using them, and thaw the frozen ones. Depending on the type of peaches, they will have a different flavor at the end.
How can I make this recipe healthier?
Swapping the sugar with a natural sweetener will help make it a healthier alternative. Honey, agave, or real maple syrup are all great options. You can also use a sugar-free sweetener to make a sugar-free teak.
Can I serve this recipe warm instead of chilled?
Go ahead and skip adding the cold water; use more hot water, and don’t add ice. Then, you can serve hot tea that is just as delicious as it would be chilled.
Does this recipe double well?
Yes, you can make a batch as large as needed. Just make sure to have a large container to hold all the tea. Then double, triple, etc., are the recipe ingredients.
More Drink Ideas
Peach Sweet Tea
Ingredients
- 7-8 large ripe peaches peeled, pitted and sliced
- 1 ½ cup granulated sugar
- 4 cups hot water
- 5-6 cups cold water
- 6 black tea bags
- 1 lemon sliced for garnish
- Ice for serving
Instructions
- Steep tea for 5 minutes in hot water. (Longer for a stronger brew)
- While tea steeps, add the diced peaches to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth.
- Optional* strain peach puree through a fine mesh sieve.
- Combine hot tea, peach puree, and sugar together in a large pitcher until sugar dissolves and mixture is combined. Stir in 5 cups of cold water.
- Adjust sweetness to taste. If tea is too strong, mix in an additional cup of water.
- Chill in the refrigerator until ready to serve or pour over ice and serve immediately with a lemon slice or fresh peach slices, enjoy!
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